Q&A

You've got questions, we've got answers. If you need help with something you didn't find in our guide, we can still help you. We publish the best and most common questions we get here—take a look to see if your question has already been answered.

Do you need to pay to play online?

SmackDown vs. RAW 2011 uses the one-time use codes that have become popular lately. All new copies of the game will come with a code that grants you access to the online features, including playing multiplayer. If you buy the game used, you will need to purchase online features permissions (called the "Online Axxess Pass") through Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network. The code will run you about $5.

Can I defend titles in exhibition ("Play") mode?

Out of the box, you can't defend most of them. The main seven titles -- WWE, World Heavyweight, Intercontinental, United States, Unified Tag, Women's, and Divas -- are only able to moved in WWE Universe mode in scheduled matches on pay-per-views. The other titles, such as the ECW Championship, can be defended in exhibition as they were last year.

Of course, if you really want a title moved, you can manually move it in the Superstar Management screen (either through WWE Universe mode or My WWE customization). You could set up a match to determine who gets the belt -- like, say, for an initial tournament -- then manually move the belt yourself. It's not ideal, but at least you can move it manually rather than be completely locked into whoever the game decides has earned the shot.

There is one way you can put a title up for defense, although it takes a bit of work and only applies to certain situations. We made a video tip for it, which you can see in our WWE Universe section.

One title belt is still locked, and I've done everything else in the guide. What is it, and how do I unlock it?

The final belt is the Million Dollar Belt. Unfortunately, the only way to unlock it is to buy the Fan Axxess package from either Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network, which will cost you around ten dollars. For better or worse, the Fan Axxess package unlocks everything in the game, so it's up to you whether that's worth the price.

Is the "Champion of Champions" belt in this year's game?

Not for SvR 2011, no. At least, not out of the box; you never know whether THQ will make it part of a download package at some point in the future. As of this writing, it's nowhere to be found.

I unlocked John Cena's entrance and attire in his Road to WrestleMania, but I can't seem to find his new entrance. Where is it?

This is a confusing typo more than anything. The name of the unlock is "John Cena (Entrance/Civilian)." It's really just an attire... they're saying, "This is the attire John Cena wears for BOTH his entrance AND as a civilian." So really, all you get is an orange T-shirt.

How do I change targets in a triple threat (or other multi-man) match?

By default, there is no manual targeting system, and the game simply makes you target whoever is closest to you. This can be changed by going to My WWE customization, then Options, then Gameplay Options, then Control Settings, then Target Settings... yes, it's extremely buried. From there, you can switch the option for your controller to "Manual..

Once that's done, you can theoretically switch targets by clicking the left stick. However, it seems a little hit-or-miss: you can't switch targets unless you're close to the other guy. So for example, say you're John Cena, and you're with Randy Orton in the ring, and Triple H is outside it. Clicking the left stick probably won't switch targets from Orton to Trips, unless Trips and you are very close to the ropes and Orton is on the other side of the ring. Further, you sometimes have to click the left stick several times to get the target switch to register.

Honestly, the best thing to do is keep the setting on "Auto," because you still have some control over who you're attacking. If you get surrounded, your best bet is to hold the left stick in the direction of the opponent you want to target, then attack. The game usually will correctly switch your target to an opponent in your specified direction, unless your intended target isn't supposed to be in the match. For example, if you're fighting someone who has a manager at ringside, you usually can't target the manager, even if you are tilting the stick correctly and are close enough. In general, though, aiming your attack before doing so usually results in the correct person being hit.

How do I put someone through the commentators' table?

First, approach the table, and press A (or X) to remove the top and clear off the monitors. Next, either Irish Whip your opponent against the table, or use a standing drag grapple to pull them over to it. Note that you have to aim almost dead-center to the table; if this works, the opponent will leaning against it. Then, all you need to do is a simple grapple, and your character will lay out the opponent on the table. Finally, you'll want to climb the nearest turnbuckle, and press the strike button.

It's possible to throw someone through the table from the top of the Hell in a Cell. Control-wise, it's easier: you just have to do a simple grapple to your opponent while he's standing at the very edge of the cell. However, you'll have to get the flight physics right -- basically, you just have to aim it. Depending on what move your character uses to send someone off the top of the cell, they may go straight back, or they may go off at an angle, and you'll have to experiment a bit to find that sweet spot to pull off the move perfectly. The hit detection is pretty generous, but there are a couple dead spots where you might miss your aim. No big deal really: just wait for him to go back up and throw him off again!

How do I put someone through a standard table?

First, you have to either lean a table against something -- the ropes, the turnbuckle, or the ringside barricade -- or set the table up properly. After that, there are a few ways to break it. First, you do any move that qualifies as a "directional throw" (it's called "D-Throw" in the Create a Move Set Mode), and, as you're doing the move, you tilt the left stick in the direction of the table. Almost everyone has at least a simple suplex, which is a good D-Throw move and can work. Remember, even if just their ankles go through the table, it counts.

The other way to put someone through the table is to set them up on it. First, you'll want to set the table properly. Second, you initiate a grapple, then drag them over near the table. When you get close, an icon will pop up, indicating to hit the A (or X) button. Tap it, and your character will make the opponent lean against the table. Then, just do a simple grapple, and your character will lay the opponent out on the table. From there, you can jump off the turnbuckle or a ladder and put him through it, assuming he doesn't dodge.

The third and easiest way to break it is to lean a table into a corner. Irish whip your opponent against the table, then just do a running attack. If it connects, he'll go through the table and be done.

Note that if your opponent has very full health, he might just auto-dodge any attempt that would result in ending the match. It's a safety device, so to speak, to keep tables matches from being only ten seconds long.

Hey! You missed a wrestler! You don't have [wrestler] in your wrestlers list!

We only covered the wrestlers that ship with the game. Downloaded wrestlers, like Chris Masters, even if THQ-approved, will not be in our list. This is because we can't possibly know who all is going to be released for download, or when, or what their moves will be. Remember that you can view anyone's finisher situation by hitting LB or RB (or L1 or R1) when you select them. Alternatively, you can pull up their moves in Create a Move Set, which is where we go when we transcribe everyone's signature and finisher situation and name.

What about Hurricane Helms? Where is he?

For some reason, even though he's in Road to WrestleMania and he actually fights by your side for part of it, he's not in the game itself. His move set is in the premade move sets so he can be created quickly enough, but he's not to be found otherwise. THQ might make him a downloadable wrestler eventually, but that's just pure speculation.